`American Idol' winner poised to become Nashville idol

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- One of the most anticipated country album this fall may be that of Checotah, Oklahoma, native and "American Idol" Carrie Underwood.<br/><br/>Underwood's album "Some Hearts"

Monday, November 14th 2005, 5:35 pm

By: News On 6

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- One of the most anticipated country album this fall may be that of Checotah, Oklahoma, native and "American Idol" Carrie Underwood.

Underwood's album "Some Hearts" is being counted on by the country music industry to help turn around a ten percent decline in country album sales this year. Music officials are hoping her popularity with "American Idol" TV fans will translate into sales.

Underwood released a pop single in June called "Inside Your Heaven" that went to Number 1 on Billboard's singles chart, but didn't fly on country radio.

Her new album is closer to what viewers heard from her on the TV show where she performed songs by Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks and Jo Dee Messina.

She co-wrote the song "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore" as an ode to her small-town roots and "Before He Cheats" is a dark song about a woman so angry with her boyfriend she takes a baseball bat to his four-wheel drive.

The first single released is "Jesus Take the Wheel" and is in the top 25 after two weeks. Underwood will sing that song during the Country Music Association awards on Tuesday, the same day as the album release.